Visiting Cory, Robin, and Jasper 2016

We were so excited to meet Jasper! I brought the big camera and took a million photos. Here's a small sample. 

Super happy group picture! Miranda "feeding" Jasper.

Kevin and Jasper meeting for the first time

Me and my new little buddy!

We walked over to Yards Park so the kids could splash around and they loved it so much. We took them before but this is the most they've enjoyed it.

The splash area

Kicking water

Lots of kids!

Down in the pool and walkway area

Waterfall!


Miranda is worried

James is so happy!

As is Miranda.


A beautiful shallow pool.

We had to bribe them away from the pool with ice cream. We went to the nearyby Ice Cream Jubilee. I got one scoop of Thai Iced Tea flavor and one Chocolate Chocolate scoop. Miranda had Passionfruit Guave Sorbet because it's pink-colored. Cory had a scoop of Banana Bourbon Caramel and something else. I'm not sure what other flavors everyone got, but they were all very unique.

Passionfruit-face.

Jasper is trying to figure out if he can steal some.

James is already done with his.

A special form of transportation!

Later that evening, while I hung out with Janice and Darren, and wile Robin was hanging out with Jasper. Kevin, Cory and Brady met up in DC. I'm sad I missed him but glad that Kevin and Cory got to have some extra fun.

Brady, Kevin, Cory

So great to see all you guys!

Washington, DC 2016

I dragged my family around the National Mall because I love DC so hard. They don't share these feelings, but too bad!

If you look carefully the Washington Monument is behind us!

Smithsonian Castle. See you later, Miranda.

We figured the National Museum of Natural History was the most kid-friendly, though we took them to the Air and Space Museum and the Portrait Gallery before. There was the most exciting development! After years of the dinosaur exhibit being closed- there were two dinosaurs on display again! There were also some other smaller fossils.

National Museum of Natural History NMNH

Whale!

Creatures camouflaged in coral

James looking a little worried about Tyrannosaurus

Three Irish peeps with Triceratops

Looking at mummies

Playing the bug information game

Holding a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach!

Fountain at National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Moondog, by Tony Smith1964, 1998 – 1999, painted aluminum

St. Patrick's Day in Washington, DC 2015

This was Miranda's first trip to DC! We spent St. Patrick's Day afternoon in DC on our way to Charlottesville. I love DC, and one of my favorite parts of the city is still the National Mall with all the free Smithsonian museums. We met up with Cory and took the kids to the National Air and Space Museum to see what James called "rocket ships." I also took James into the one space ship you can enter while Kevin fed Miranda.

At the National Air and Space Museum

Studying buoyancy.

Generating energy.

Checking out the equipment

After that, we got overly-ambitious, and decided to go to the Museum of Natural History to see dinosaurs. Yeah, apparently the dinosaur exhibit has been closed for ages. Sad! James enjoyed the marine exhibit instead. When we showed him a big gross dead squid he said, "whales eat them!" So true. Calamari is yummy.

On the way to our next museum, the guys kept calling me "the nanny."

Who has fingers and is at the Museum of Natural History?

Showing Miranda the big whale

Hanging out with our mammal friends.

We met Robin for dinner at 100 Montaditos, a Spanish tapas place that serves tons of delicious little sandwiches.

Miranda likes Robin

James had so many cute poses here, I could barely decide, but this one won.

You might be thinking that James appreciated all these great things we did for his benefit. If so, you probably don't have kids. Later that night Cory introduced James to some real video games including Ms. Pac Man and a racing game. After that, James only talked about that, and told us he wanted to live with Cory forever. Thanks buddy!

 

Miranda has a video controller too. She uses it for teething.

• James was about the same age (not yet 1) the first time we took him to DC in 2012.
• Eastern Market and Yards Park in August 2012
• National Portrait Gallery in March 2013
• National Zoo in May 2013
• Girls' Weekend in DC 2014

Girls' Weekend in DC 2014

You guys, I am so pregnant and tired (8 months today!) that I can't write a proper post, but I had a lovely time with some of my college friends at Girls' Weekend Saturday and Sunday. (I only wish I had time to see all the new and not-so-new babies in the DC metro area- next time!

Laurie, Christina, Ash, Megan, Janice, me

Christina and I took Amtrak to DC which was quite the adventure for me in itself since last time I took the train was in 2004 (DC to Boston for the Democratic Convention). The train is over-priced but a much better way for a pregnant lady to travel than the bus (and probably better than flying too).  Christina and I had a lot of extra time to hang out, and used it mainly to repeat stories and snack. Haha.

 

Clockwise from top: on train, me inside Union Station, Christina outside it 

Ash and Janice picked us up and our first stop was lunch in Shirlington with Megan. We went to T.H.A.I. I think I've been there before and it's yummy as always.

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Megan and Christina at T.H.A.I.

Ash, me, and Janice at T.H.A.I

We had a lot of time to kill before dinner and it was unseasonable warm out so we grabbed some flip flops and got pedicures. Usually I go most of the cold part of the winter without one and it's not pretty. Especially since I can't even reach my feet right now!

This picture reminds me of a scene in Sex in the City, but we're nothing like the characters

Finally it was time for dinner. Laurie made reservations for us at Le Diplomate, and I really enjoyed it. Everything was delicious, and there was a somewhat casual atmosphere that made it really comfortable to be there. We all tried everyone else's food so I can say confidently that everything is good.

At dinner on Saturday

Outside Le Diplomate on Q Street

Laurie hosted us for brunch on Sunday, which was not only super nice but also super tasty. We had delicious quiche,waffles, and lots of fruit and fixings. We also had some of the more meaningful and also the weirdest conversation at brunch.  Long live Girls' Weekend!

Laurie making waffles

Digging in!

• Girls' Weekend in Warwick, NY 2012
• Pseudo-Girls'-Weekend for my birthday in Long Island 2013

Brian's 30th Birthday 2013

We went to Virginia last weekend to celebrate Brian's 30th birthday! That's 30 years of awesomeness, now with harder abs. Haha. We celebrated with drinks and cupcakes at Copperwood Tavern in Arlington, Virginia. The bar is pretty new, and everyone loved it. It's big and cool-looking, and Kevin said the beer on tap is good. I enjoyed their delicious water.

Brian (argyle sweater) and his Crossfit peeps!

Cupcakes


Carrie and Brian- Carrie made the cupcakes

Me and Kevin

Roger and Lina

Cory and Robin enjoying cupcakes

Kenny and Beng

(Special thanks to Jaime who babysat while we went out.)

The next morning a few of us had brunch with Brian on his actual birthday at Medium Rare in DC. Despite reservations, being there first, and ample space, they didn't put us at one table? Everyone had a good time though and the food was pretty good. Even James thought so.

Some UVA Brunch peeps

Gloria, McKenzie, Alexis, and Beng

Opening presents from Kenny and Diane

Happy birthday, Brian!